Regional strategy (RSES) · Northern and Western Region
Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020–2032
The regional strategy for the Northern and Western Region, including the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan.
Northern and Western Regional Assembly · January 2020 · 320 pages
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- CASE STUDY MARBLE ARCH CAVES UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK (CAVAN/FERMANAGH) The UNESCO Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark is a borderless Park which is located within the counties of Cavan and Fermanagh. It is managed jointly between Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in Northern Ireland and Cavan County Council in the Republic of Ireland. The Geopark is one of the principal tourist attractions in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it is seen as one of the leading environmental education providers in Europe. The Geopark has strong community networks and works closely with local activity and accommodation providers to deliver a strong Geopark brand, which has grown steadily over the past number of years. The current Geopark boundary encompasses an area over 2,333km² and boasts over 50 sites across Cavan and Fermanagh. Some have been designated for their geological value but many for their aesthetic and environmental value. In 2015 the Geopark further expanded its boundary into Cavan to encompass some significant tourist amenities such as Castle Saunderson, Killykeen Forest Park and Dowra Courthouse. Several sites within the Geopark have been developed as key flagship sites from a tourism and conservation perspective namely Cavan Burren Park Interpretative Centre and Trails and the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre. Combined visitor numbers for both these sites are now more than 120,000 per year. Added to this were the recent developments at Cuilcagh Mountain Park including the installation of a boardwalk to the summit to protect this environmentally sensitive site protected under EU Directive. This has seen another huge increase in numbers visiting the Geopark and across all sites, it is estimated that over 400,000 people visit the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark per annum. A recent economic study measuring the economic impact of the Geopark with specific reference to Cuilcagh and its hinterlands found the average age of visitors to the region was 38 years – which is in line with the Fáilte Ireland profile of the ‘Great Escapers’. Significantly the average spend of day trip respondents was approx €18 per person. The majority of visitors to the area are from the Republic of Ireland (over 50%) with 11% of these visitors staying overnight in the region. It is a key objective of the Geopark to increase overnight occupancy and in turn, spend across the region through ongoing engagement with local trade and interest groups. There are of course many intangible benefits associated with the Geopark. The Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark makes a significant contribution to maintaining indirect employment within the regional tourism industry, providing countryside access for visitors and locals alike, conservation of EU priority natural habitats, raising public awareness through various educational programmes and increasing a sense of ownership of natural places for local communities. As the region continues to develop the Geopark facilitates the sustainable economic, environmental and social growth of this important landscape.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 291 9 All Island Cohesion
- CASE STUDY CATCHMENTCARE – MANAGING OUR SHARED ENVIRONMENT RESPONSIBILITY The areas of cross border co-operation and collaboration extend across many areas, including education, health care, water supply environment and the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. At present there are three international River Basin District Management Plans, which involve bodies from both sides of the Border, they are as follows: g Shannon International River Basin g Neagh Bann International River Basin g North Western International River Basin The CatchmentCARE project involves multiple partners from North and South and its ultimate aim is to contribute towards improving water quality within three River Basin Catchments (The Finn, Blackwater and Arney Rivers). Partners Include: g Donegal County Council g Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute g Inland Fisheries Ireland g Loughs Agency g University of Ulster g Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council g British Geological Survey g Geological Survey Ireland The project will operate over five years and the overall budget extends to €13.8m. In addition to overall water quality improvement, one of the key aims of the project is to create a project legacy, where the key outcomes can be transferred beyond the three River catchments concerned.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 292 9 All Island Cohesion
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- Implementation 10.1 Introduction The primary purpose for implementing the RSES is to bring about sustainable change for communities across the region. The Regional Assembly is committed to working effectively to help deliver the long-term directions outlined in this strategy; accelerating our growth towards a greener and smarter future. There are many ways it will do this, some of which are set out below. g Lead on the ongoing development and implementation of the integrated growth framework g Identify a blend of funding instruments to accelerate implementation g Ensure necessary monitoring and review systems are designed and prioritised g Through collaborative leadership implement best practice and promote innovative practices g Promote a consistent and sustainable approach to land-use planning g Advocate policy or system change necessary to deliver on evidence based regional needs. The ambitions of this strategy requires alignment and coordination between central and local government, the private sector, institutions and nongovernment organisations and most importantly our communities. It shall require collaborative investments and actions by many parties to achieve the targets and actions outlined in the strategy. In particular, the constituent local authorities and central government bodies and agencies shall play a key role in implementing the RSES, which provides a clear collaborative statement on investment priorities necessary to achieve the 10 National Strategic Outcomes of the National Planning Framework.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 294 10
- Figure 69: RSES Implementation Process The way ahead will present challenges and will be influenced by a range of factors including an ageing and growing population, urbanisation, climate change, disruptive technology and geopolitical stability. Realising the ambitions of this document will require organisations and people to work together, share their ideas, information and most importantly the pooling of resources. This will be enabled by public bodies having strategies, plans and programmes that are consistent with the RSES and this shared sense of the direction in which we are travelling will help in growing our region up to 180,000 additional people and creating over 115,000 new jobs. This shall also be supported and amplified through the delivery of a suite of Local Authority Development Plans, Local Area Plans and Local Economic and Community Plans that are to be consistent with the general policy, ambitions and objectives of the RSES. This will enable alignment of local planning policy with National and Regional Policy. This part of the strategy explains how the RSES will be integrated, implemented and funded. It sets out how the ambitions of this strategy will be delivered at regional and sub-regional level and how progress is evaluated through monitoring and review of the strategy. LEAD SPATIAL AND ECONOMIC STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FUND PLAN / MONITOR INNOVATE PLANNING ADVOCATENorthern & Western Regional Assembly 295 10 Implementation
- 10.2 Legislative Background The Northern and Western Regional Assembly will be accountable for monitoring and reporting on how the vision and ambitions of the Strategy are being progressed. The Assembly will listen to and work with all stakeholders and the community to make sure that growth is aligned with infrastructure and delivered in the right places at the right times. Broadly speaking, successful implementation depends on: g Good relationships among partners and stakeholders. g Strong alignment in planning and investment. g Effective coordination and agreement. g Taking up opportunities to innovate and do things differently. This will be enabled through a range of new tools that have been progressively introduced into legislation that place requirements on public bodies: g Under the Local Government Reform Act, 2014, certain public bodies and all Local Authorities within the region are required (every 2 years) to prepare and submit a report to the Regional Assembly which sets out the progress made in supporting objectives within the RSES. g The Northern and Western Regional Assembly has to prepare a monitoring report every 2 years which details progress made in complying and following the objectives of the RSES. This report will evaluate measures taken in respect of Objectives, and monitoring of specific actions, required by stakeholders. g The NWRA will submit the monitoring report to the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC). It is open to NOAC upon review of the report to make recommendations to the Minister of Housing, Planning and Local Government to suggest additional measures (where necessary) to support the effective implementation of the RSES. g Public and Statutory Bodies are expected to lend whatever assistance is practicable to ensure the RSES objectives are delivered. The NWRA will infuse the principles of partnership, cooperation and collaborative leadership across all implementation plans and the outcome from this process will be that: 1. Shared investment programmes are developed and underpinned by robust information, evidence, analysis and monitoring of the regions growth and change 2. Initiatives, strategies, and programmes of work will deliver on multiple outcomes wherever possible, linked to the 10 Strategic Outcomes (NPF) and the development objectives of this strategy, to get the best value for money from collective investments 3. We work together to leverage and build on what we can to avoid duplicating effort and wasting resources.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 296 10 Implementation
- KEY RECENT ENABLERS LAND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (LDA) The LDA has an urgent focus on managing lands which are currently within the ownership of the State, or various State bodies, to regenerate underutilised sites, increase the supply of new homes and boost housing supply. In the longer term, it is envisaged the LDA will assemble strategic landbanks through a mix of public and private lands, and make these lands available for housing in a controlled manner, which brings necessary stability and affordability in the medium and longer-term to the housing market. It will be important that the assets held by the state in this regard are identified, and utilised, particularly in Galway, and our Regional Centres of Athlone, Letterkenny and Sligo. OFFICE OF THE PLANNING REGULATOR (OPR) The Office of the Planning Regulator has been established under the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act, 2018. The OPR has a role in monitoring activity, advising the Minister, the DHPLG and the Houses of the Oireachtas on implementation of the National Planning Framework. This will be done through an assessment of the hierarchy of plans at National, Regional and Local Authority level. In the case of the latter, this will include Development Plans and Local Area Plans to ensure consistency with relevant national and regional policies.Northern & Western Regional Assembly 297 10 Implementation
- 10.3 Funding Follows Policy The RSES is an enabler for investment and a strategy used by regional stakeholders to source and secure much-needed resources. Investment in our region will be leveraged through funding sources linked to; 1. The Exchequer (Project Ireland 2040) 2. EU Investment Programmes 3. Financial instruments 4. Community and Local Authority investment 5. Private financing or public/private partnerships. As a key enabler to support the objectives of the NPF, the Government has approved four funds, with a total allocation amounting to €4bn over the 10-year period of the NDP, of which €765m is allocated for the next three years. All four are competitive bid-based funds, to support innovative, collaborative projects which would not otherwise happen, in relation to Urban Regeneration and Development (€2bn), Rural Regeneration and Development (€1bn), Climate Action (€500m) and Disruptive Technologies (€500m), each to be overseen by the relevant Government Department. A key focus for all four funds will be on collaboration between organisations and sectors, and on projects that will deliver impactful and transformational change. In addition, the EU Commission’s ‘European Green Deal’ and Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, (specifically financial supports available through the Just Transition Fund), will present opportunities to enable Ireland’s necessary transition away from carbon-intensive sources of energy. The Northern and Western Regional Assembly is also strategically positioning itself to align with EU priorities post-2020, where the integration of funds could be aligned through NPF, NDP and EU through an integrated funding model.Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 298 10 Implementation
- REGIONAL The RSES sets priorities and provides a regional direction for planning at County/City level. It focuses on new housing and jobs, and targets growth in strategic centres - Metropolitan Galway and our Regional Growth Centres. Funding will be provided to growth areas for regional infrastructure for transport, housing, health, enterprise and innovation, education and for community/recreational/civic facilities through the recently announced four funds. Priority investment is identified over a period up to 2026 and 2031. The Assembly will take ownership for oversight in the implementation of the Strategy. It will monitor and report on progress in the achievement of development objectives within the strategy and it shall collaborate with stakeholders to expedite delivery of the development and growth of our urban centres and strategic rural communities. A blend of funding instruments will be identified that enables our sectors, clusters and catchments/ corridors to realise their economic potential. A primary task is to ensure that all local authority development plans and Local Economic and Community Plans are consistent with the RSES and relevant national policy. Following the preparation of a new draft development plan or a proposed variation to an existing development plan, the Regional Assembly will consider if the draft is consistent with the RSES and can issue formal recommendations to the relevant local authority where necessary. It is intended that a similar process will be applied to the review of Local Economic and Community Plans. SUB REGIONAL At sub-regional level, the region can be divided up in many different ways. This strategy identifies sub-regions on a functional economic, rather than administrative, basis. Our RSES commits to ensuring the principles for regional spatial and economic development apply to all our functional areas. In many sub-regions, however, delivery is currently organised based on administrative boundaries. Many of the region’s sub-regional economic partnerships are currently county-based. There are also several sub-regional initiatives such as Regional Enterprise Plans, Atlantic Economic Corridor, Upper Shannon Erne Future Economy etc that require support. The RSES can assist sub-regional initiatives by: g Formulating and supporting the alignment of sub-regional economic priorities and investments g Supporting synergies and sub-regional partnerships across LECPs g Identifying partnerships or strategic opportunities for aggregated focus g Harnessing support of public and private interests in Place Based Projects g Identifying opportunities for shared resources or joint bidding g Supporting the convergence of interest across regional stakeholders (third level, policymakers, industry leaders and public organisation)Northern & Western Regional Assembly 299 10 Implementation
- 10.4 Monitoring The Assembly will monitor and review progress towards achieving the vision and ambitions of the Strategy. The monitoring framework should, ideally, encourage the continual improvement of policy interventions as a result of experience gained. This means more than just monitoring progress against plans. It is about gaining a better understanding of the effectiveness of policy interventions. The Assembly will continue to identify those external factors that may have implications for the implementation of the strategy. This will help prioritise government infrastructure delivery and influence policy settings. The NWRA will publish a biennial report that considers indicators available relevant to the overall strategy including GVA, employment figures, population and other demographics. Every five to six years, or as necessary, the strategy will be reviewed and adjusted to make sure the vision for 2040 is realised. Such an ambitious strategy requires a solid evidence base to formulate approaches for future growth but also to measure progress. The benchmark for monitoring sustainable development is the published ‘Socio-Economic Baseline Report’. This report provides an understanding of the current socio-economic conditions across the region. Monitoring over 20 indicators will allow us to measure growth historically but also comparatively nationally, regionally and across EU members states. The reporting on the progress made in the implementation of objectives with particular reference to projects will be supported by the identification of the implementation timescale for each regional policy objective using the timeframe set out in sample table below: RPO Ref No. Implementation Timescale Project RPO No. Short (2026) Medium (2031) Long (2040)Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032 300 10 Implementation
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